Valley View: 2014 Dutchess budget wasn't properly scrutinized

10:51 PM,
Dec. 14, 2013

Diane Jablonski

Written by

Diane Jablonski

The presentation and subsequent approval of the Dutchess County budget for 2014 is a story of lack of transparency and the failure of legislators to execute their responsibilities to act as a check and balance to the county executive. The county legislature is composed of part-time legislators who despite all good intentions do not have the time, expertise or in-depth knowledge to do a detailed analysis of the budget submitted to them for approval.

It's a dereliction of duty for the legislature to accept a cursory budget analysis reviewing and assessing the budget assumptions and ...